"In Christ Alone We Endure" (Mark 13:1-13)

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Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen! Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

Jesus said: “And you will be hated by all for My Name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved” (Mark 13:13).

 

Today is one of those Sundays where it may sound wrong saying, “This is the Gospel of the Lord.” 

 

Are you looking forward to the coming of Christ? Normally, we’d all say, “Yes!” But how are you feeling after today’s Gospel reading? Does the coming of Christ actually sound like a glorious day? Are you beginning to second guess saying, “Come, Lord Jesus”?

 

We all look forward to the day when we are sheltered in the presence of the Lamb of God. We all look forward to when we will hunger no more, thirst no more, suffer no more. But until that great and glorious day, Christ says, “There shall be a time of trouble” (Daniel 12:1). Many will be led away by false christs – false pastors – wolves in sheep’s clothing, who preach what our sinful itching ears desire to hear rather than what we need to hear, who refuse to preach God’s Word as they bend to the cultural tides. 

 

Christ warns of wars and rumors of wars. Nations rising against nation and kingdom against kingdom. Earthquakes in various places. Famines. They will bring you before councils. They will beat you. They will bring you to trial and hand you over. Brother delivering brother to death. Father delivering his child, and children rising against their parents to have them put to death. We will seemingly be hated by all.

 

Are you still looking forward to the coming of Christ? It sounds like all hell will be breaking loose. It sounds a lot like doom and gloom. Where is the good news in any of this?

 

Jesus says, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down” (Mark 13:2).

 

Not only will the Jerusalem temple be destroyed – for which it already has been – but everything built by human hands will be destroyed – including this building known as Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. As much as this may shock us today, this certainly shocked Christ’s disciples then. They were not only shocked, but they were disturbed!

 

You see, the temple was the heart and center of Jewish life. It was where they prayed. It was where their sins were forgiven. For any Jew, the destruction of the temple meant – really – the end of the world. 

 

Everything built with human hands will be destroyed on the Last Day. Those beautiful churches, those tall skyscrapers, those billion-dollar sports stadiums. Everything will be destroyed. Everything. So, we shouldn’t be too impressed by the structures all around us.

 

Not only that. But Satan will be spreading murder and mayhem wherever he can. He will get in as much destruction as he can in the short time he has left. 

 

But there is good news. Did you catch it? Christ says: “The one who endures to the end will be saved” (Mark 13:13b).

 

Really? We have to endure? How can we endure through deception, wars and rumors of wars, persecution, even persecution from within our own nuclear families?

 

That’s the good news? Endure? All I have to do is endure through times of trouble, troubles that will be far worse than I can even imagine, and then I will be saved? How could surviving unprecedented troubles really comfort me?

 

If we’re honest, for those who travel, we barely endure the TSA line at the airport. We have to wait in line, then when we reach the end of the line, we are treated like criminals. Many would rather pay for TSA pre-check or Clear, so they can cut in line and avoid the humiliation.

 

We barely endure traveling in a car with a toddler across state lines.

 

We barely endure when the car in front of you is going the speed limit.

 

We barely endure the thought that someone may not like you, let alone be angry with you, or actually hate you.

 

Just look at Christ’s disciples. How well did they do at enduring during trials? Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Jesus privately: “Tell us, when will these things be?” (Mark 13:4a).

 

Peter denied Jesus not just once, not just twice, but three times. And James, John, and Andrew joined Peter, and the other apostles, who hid away behind locked doors after Jesus was crucified for the fear of the Jewish authorities.

 

So, are Christ’s own apostles doomed? Are we doomed? How can anyone be saved? What hope do we have of enduring all that Christ lays out for us today?

 

So many of us struggle with just little things. So many of us feel overwhelmed already with just those little things. So, how could we endure when the bad turns to the worst?

 

Some weeks ago, we heard Christ say: “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God” (Mark 10:27). Again, I bring up that rich young man from Mark 10. Christ’s disciples believed that simple wealth proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that rich people must have special access before God. But just because you are wealthy doesn’t guarantee salvation. The only guarantee of salvation is faith alone in Christ Jesus.

 

So, the only hope we have to endure all things is to look to Christ alone, who has endured everything before us and for us!

 

Christ has already been betrayed and abandoned. He was delivered over to the council and beaten. He stood before governors and kings. He was hated by all. He was scourged and crucified. The earth quaked. He died.

 

Christ endured it all for you and me, so that we would be saved. Then on that third day, He rose in victory over our evil foes: sin, death, and the devil. And Christ wasn’t done yet! He would later ascend to the right hand of God the Father in glory. Then He would send the Holy Spirit.

 

If enduring is something that we do by our own reason and strength, we would never endure. If enduring is something that we can manage, then salvation is tied to works. What Jesus describes to us today is clearly unendurable for sinners, but thanks be to God “all things are possible with God,”as He gives us the only way we can endure and that is by clinging to Jesus Christ alone!

 

Jesus says: “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). So, we only endure since Christ endured for us! Our victory is His victory! Our salvation is His salvation! 

 

Yes, endurance is tough. But it’s only tough if we endure by ourselves. In Christ alone, His yoke is easy, and His burden is light (Matthew 11:30). 

 

Jesus has endured for you! So, you can also endure in Him!

 

Today and at each Divine Service, Jesus gives you the way to endure to the end. He comes to us in His body and blood broken and shed for you and your sins! He comes to us through His Word that endures forever!

 

So, when all hell breaks loose – and it will, Christ invites us to hide in Him and thus endure through Him.

 

Remember, this is why Christ became man, why He suffered and died, why He endured all. Apart from Christ, all things are impossible. Apart from Christ, we are doomed. 

 

But remember your Baptism into Christ, where Christ claimed you as His own. Each time we eat the bread and drink the cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. And He is coming, for He has promised. And God keeps all of His promises. He never lies (Titus 1:2). He is with you always, to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20).

 

Even though we may see everything around us disappear, Christ tells us: don’t be alarmed. Even when the fallen world temps us through false teachings in order to lead us astray, or worldly peace comes to an end through persecution, war, earthquakes, and family ties, always remember: Christ endures. And if you cling to Christ, you will also endure!

 

Nothing, not even Christ’s dire list we heard today, can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus. By grace through faith in Christ alone, through His Means of Grace, we endure to the end. In Christ alone, we are saved! So, we say: “Come, Lord Jesus!” Amen.

 

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, 
keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.
+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +

"Faith-filled Giving" (Mark 12:38-44)

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Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen! Dear brothers and sisters in Christ: 

“And [Jesus] called His disciples to Him and said to them, ‘Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on’” (Mark 12:43-44).

Some weeks ago, a rich young man came up to Jesus and asked Him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17). After Jesus examined the heart issues of this rich young man, He said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me” (Mark 10:21). That’s the last we hear of this rich young man as he left Jesus disgruntled since He could not part from his absolute dependence on his great possessions.

 

In today’s Gospel lesson, we find Jesus and His disciples sitting in the temple court of the women, where the temple offerings were deposited. As they sit, Jesus is examining the hearts of all the worshipers.

 

There, in the court of the women, are 13 trumpet-shaped receptacles. If you are a Millennial or older, like me, you may remember those highway toll baskets. Those offering receptacles would look similar to those toll baskets. Worshipers would walk up to those receptacles and drop in their coins of copper, silver, or gold.

 

There, with Jesus and His disciples, would be other onlookers watching what others had given to the temple treasury, in case they felt the urge to outdo their neighbor.

 

Then comes up a woman, a widow. She drops into the receptacle two small copper coins. In today’s money, this would be a fraction of a cent. But surprisingly, Jesus says to His disciples, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on” (Mark 12:43-44). 

 

Now, how did Jesus know this? Did He ask this widow? No! He knew because as the Son of God, He could look into her heart. You see, Jesus knows vastly more about us and all others than we even know about ourselves.

 

This past Tuesday was the general election. You may be thrilled with the results, or you may be down in the dumps. Today, you may be thinking you know your future. But do you really know? Psalm 146 teaches us: “Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish”(Psalm 146:3-4).

 

Do you really know everything that is going to happen in this coming year? Do you really know what your income will be? Do you really know what your overall financial situation will be? As much as we think we know – we don’t. We live in uncertainty. So much of our life is uncertain. 

 

Today’s Gospel text teaches us many things. One of those things is proportional giving. Jesus said the rich had given out of their abundance. For the rich, it was a surplus, an overflow. They made a lot of money, and they gave a lot of money. 

 

But for that widow, she gave all that she had – 100 percent. Now, the amount cannot compare, but percentage wise, that widow gave more than anyone else.

 

Proportional, or percentage giving, has always been the way God prescribed. Old Testament Israel was required to give 10 percent of the income they received. The tithe was God’s system of percentage giving. 

 

One reason why God prescribed proportional giving is that it works at all income levels. Some have said, “If I had a larger income, I would give a tithe, but right now, I can’t afford it.” 

 

Well, the nice thing about proportional giving is that it grows or shrinks with every paycheck. It works for everyone.

 

Now, in today’s Gospel text, Jesus still speaks about proportional giving, but He doesn’t demand any particular percentage. So, we can give more or less than ten percent. But our offerings should still reflect the way God has blessed us.

 

If the Old Testament people had to give 10 percent, and all they had was the promise of the Savior, what about how much we have been blessed? We are blessed with the certainty that the promise of the Savior has been fulfilled! Jesus Christ has come! We know He died and rose from the dead for us. We know that He has taken away sins. So, what’s the proper proportional thanksgiving for salvation?

 

But oddly enough, today’s text isn’t primarily about proportional giving. Recall all those rich people dropping in their silver and gold into the receptacles. It is likely that many gave a hefty proportion. Remember, ten percent was commanded, but many exceeded that. And someone could give 70, or 80, or 90 percent and still not be commended by Jesus. And why is that? What makes this widow so easily commended by Jesus?

 

You see, if we think our tithes and offerings gets us in good with God, then no percentage is good. God doesn’t need our tithes and offerings. He is God. He is wealthier beyond what we can imagine. However, the Church requires it and our neighbor in need requires it.

 

What really matters here is faith. God desires that we fear, love and trust in Him above all things. Faith is recognizing what God has done for us in the past and believing what He will continue to do for us in the future. 

 

The widow had so little of everything, except faith. It may be no accident that Jesus speaks about the scribes taking advantage of widows in their poverty and then covering up their wickedness by saying long prayers so that everyone would think them to be holy. It could very well be that a scribe took advantage of this widow and has deposited her money as his money into the temple receptacle.

 

Even if that is the case, this widow still offers to God the last of her money. And she gave as a matter of faith. Her husband had died, which meant she lost her sole source of income. Yet, she believed that God had provided for her and that He would continue to provide for her into the future.

 

You see, Christian giving is always a matter of faith. As I said earlier, we don’t know what tomorrow will bring. But we know Who already knows. So, do you recognize what God has done for you in the past? Do you trust that He will provide for you in the future? Christian giving is a question of faith. It is a question of trust. Christian giving is trusting that God will take care of you.

 

The widow completely trusted God. She trusted Him sacrificially.

 

Now, I’m not saying to empty out your bank accounts. That would be stupid and unwise. That would be a wrong interpretation of our text. But Jesus is inviting us to give Him ourselves. He is inviting us to trust in Him. He is inviting us to cling to Him as the Giver of all things for body and soul. If we truly trusted in Jesus, then our tithes and offerings would also represent that. 

 

Like the rich young man in Mark 10, today’s text about the widow’s faith also leaves us with a cliffhanger. What happens next? We don’t know.

 

Maybe Jesus and His disciples cared for her? Maybe she starved?

 

It’s no accident that we don’t know. If we did, it may have ruined the meaning of today’s text.

 

We are left in uncertainty about the widow, because our Christian tithes and offerings are always to be given in the face of uncertainty, since our giving is always to be an exercise of faith. Again, we don’t know our financial future. We don’t know if we may face catastrophic bills. We don’t know if you will lose your job, or if social security will dry up. We just don’t know.

 

But we do have some things that are always certain. Christ is coming back. Eternal life is certain for everyone who trusts in Jesus. His death and resurrection has made forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and salvation certain for everyone who clings to Jesus as their Lord.

 

Today’s event at the temple is particularly thrilling for another reason. This would be Jesus’ last visit to the temple. From there, He went forward to offer Himself – all that He is – on the cross to pay the price we could not pay, to make the contribution we could not make. On that Good Friday, He paid our entire debt of sin. In Christ alone, we are forgiven. Amen.

 

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, 
keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.
+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +

"A Glimpse of What is to Come" (Revelation 7:9-17)

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Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen! Dear brothers and sisters in Christ: 

“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no none could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:9-10).

 

This vision is for us. It’s the revelation of Jesus Christ to St. John. Jesus revealed. John looked. And today, on this All Saints’ Sunday, we receive a glimpse of what Jesus revealed to John.

 

This vision helps us see the goal of every Christian currently striving in the Church Militant across the earth today. The goal to be part of this great multitude for eternity that no one can number from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before God’s throne, standing before Jesus Christ, the Lamb slain for our sin, clothed in resurrected glory for eternity.

 

This vision answers so many questions. Like: why do we establish Christian congregations? Why do we seek our prodigal sons and daughters? Why do we seek the unbelievers? Why do we call pastors? Why do we teach the one true Christian faith? Why do we give offerings sacrificially each week? Why do we plan for the future?

 

We do all those things so that we and many others from Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, West Salem and the Coulee Region, can be part of this great multitude before the throne of the Lamb!

 

Now, I’d like to give you some background on what led Jesus to reveal this vision to John.

When John wrote Revelation, it was a tough time to be a Christian. If you think today is tough, you have no idea. You see, for just being a Christian, many endured unimaginable pain. They were thrown to lions while onlookers cheered. They were set on fire. They were hurled down cliffs. They were skinned alive. And they were even boiled in oil.

 

If they would have only denied their Christian faith, life would have been so much easier. They would have been liked. They would have been approved of by society. They would have been approved of by this fallen world’s prince. They would be the ones sitting in the stadium seats, rather than the ones facing certain death below.

 

So, Jesus revealed this vision to John. Jesus knew that the faithful saints had struggles in the past, and they were going through struggles in the present, and that they would encounter more struggles in the future. Sin was certainly alive and well in these pagan cities of ancient Rome.

 

To the seven churches of Revelation, Jesus warns John of the forsaking of truth, of false prophets, of false teachings, of sexual immorality, idolatry, death of true faith, Jesus meaning little, going through the motions of religion, refusing to evangelize Christ to others, spiritual lukewarmness, and only finding security in possessions and wealth.

 

This sounds like what we face today. In fact, this is what we have always faced. The Church faces persecution from the outside and the Church faces persecution from the inside. The fallen world and its prince attack us from the outside. And our sinful nature attacks us from the inside.

 

The fallen world and its prince use approval and deception to lead us away from Christ. Our sinful nature enjoys being puffed up. Our sinful nature enjoys being among the crowd. And this fallen world, and its prince most certainly knows that. So, they lead us to deny Christ and His teachings. We get ourselves caught up becoming worldly minded as we may even find ourselves mocking Christ and His teachings.

 

Today, so much of Christ’s bride – the Church – is confused on what marriage is, how sexuality should be experienced, and who created this world in the first place. We begin to doubt Christ’s love for us. We question each other on where our own prodigals have gone, instead of reaching out to them personally to welcome them back into Christ’s flock. The Church is very much confused. 

And Jesus did promise that we would face challenges. As we heard in the Beatitudes: “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven” (Matthew 5:11-12).

 

Jesus gave this vision to John – for us, so that we would be encouraged! For we will rise from death, live forever, worship and sing, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:10).

 

We will do what every human was created to do: worship the one true God! Sin has disrupted this natural response. As, often, we would rather have nothing to do with God, since by our own flawed reason, we cannot believe in Jesus Christ or even come to Him. But God doesn’t just leave us in this state, so the Holy Spirit calls us by the Gospel, enlightens us with His gifts of Word and Sacrament, sanctifies us and keeps us in the one truth faith, so that in our resurrected state, we continue this pattern of worship already begun on earth, but now is done perfectly and without interruption as we sing, “Salvation belongs to our God …”

 

But how do we receive this future? Is it from service to our neighbor? Is it for our service to the church? No, but those are good things. Things that support our neighbor in his body and soul. The only reason for saints being in heaven is this: “They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:14b).

 

You see, your future is based solely on being clothed in the righteousness of Christ! Your future is based solely upon the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ, who shed His blood for you and your sin! You and I are saints, holy ones, now and forever, solely through the shed blood of Jesus that was spilled for you as He was nailed to a cross.

 

Now, there is some irony to this. What happens when you nick yourself and you have blood over your clothes? Or what happens if you accidently spill red wine on yourself? You try to get it out, since it will stain permanently. But the blood of Jesus cleanses permanently, because it is a payment in full for sin. It is a blood that continues to cleanse you from sin today as you hear of it here and as you drink it at this altar. 

 

Listen to your future:

“Therefore they are before the throne of God,
    and serve him day and night in his temple;
    and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.
They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;
    the sun shall not strike them,
    nor any scorching heat.

For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd,
    and he will guide them to springs of living water,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes” (Revelation 7:15-17).

 

Each of our years here on earth has been filled pain and struggle. And you can be sure that you may have many more years left filled with pain and struggle. You and I have shed tears saying our temporary goodbyes to saints who are now with their Lord.

 

But as God’s sure and certain Word proclaims, “We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:37-39).

 

Here, in the foretaste of the feast to come, in this Divine Service, Jesus refreshes us in His Means of Grace – His Word and Sacraments – for our work in this fallen world and in our service to Him in His Church. 

 

But one day, our struggle with sin will be no more – and we will no longer hunger and thirst, since the Lamb will guide us to “springs of living water” (Revelation 7:17b) as He meets all our physical and spiritual needs. Our baptismal garments will be exchanged for the permanent robe of resurrected glory, and He “will wipe away every tear from [our] eyes” (Revelation 7:17c).

 

On All Saints’ Sunday, we receive a glimpse into the bliss of heaven of our ultimate and certain future as forgiven saints through the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ! Death will be no more! Mourning will be no more! Pain will be no more!

 

This is our bright and glorious future as saints, who come out of this great tribulation – our life now– arrayed in robes made white through the blood of the Lamb! Amen.

 

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, 
keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.
+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +

"Our Reformation Cry!" (Matthew 11:12-19)

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Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen! Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

Jesus said to the crowd: “From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force” (Matthew 11:12).

 

On this Reformation Sunday, we thank the Lord for the long line of saints who have remained steadfast in the truth of God’s Word – the Old Testament prophets, John the Baptist, saints of the Early Church, the reformers of the one true Faith, and countless faithful men and women today. Each one of them, including you and me, have paid a price in remaining faithful to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

Yes, we have all paid a price. Now, some much more than others. For many, they have paid the ultimate price – martyrdom. For others, they may have lost long friendships and family, because of remaining faithful to Christ.

 

As Christians, we must be prepared to suffer for God’s truth, since we know that Satan and his fallen world hate Christ and Christ’s Church. And why is that? Why can’t we just get along?

 

One chapter earlier in Matthew 10, Jesus chose His Twelve Apostles. He gave them “authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction” (Matthew 10:1). Then Jesus gave them their mission: to proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is at hand as they heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers and cast out demons (Matthew 10:7-8). Jesus also gave them His promise: “Everyone who acknowledges Me before men, I also will acknowledge before My Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32-33).

 

Hitched to that promise was a declaration of war: “Whoever receives you receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me” (Matthew 10:40).

 

So, why can’t we just all get along? It’s because of the enemy – Satan, his minions, and this fallen world – which doesn’t much like incursions into its domain.

 

Following His instructions to the Twelve Apostles, Jesus went on preaching and teaching. He was preaching and teaching in enemy territory – Satan’s fallen world. Jesus went on preaching and teaching, since He came to rescue and restore this fallen world.

 

As this is happening, John the Baptist is locked up in prison awaiting his execution. There, in his cell, John is wondering if, in fact, Jesus of Nazareth, is the promised Messiah, who has come to restore all of humanity. Or should his disciples look for another? To that question, Jesus says to John’s disciples, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by Me” (Matthew 11:4-6).

 

Jesus then asks the crowds about John. “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing?” (Matthew 11:7b-8a)

 

Did the crowds seek someone to be swayed with the shifting winds of public opinion? No. Did they seek a man dressed in nice clothes like that of a powerful king? No.

 

What the crowds saw was the messenger preparing the way for the Christ.

 

This is what led Jesus to say: “From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force” (Matthew 11:12).

 

You see, when God took upon Himself human flesh, the fallen world, Satan, and our own sinful nature didn’t really appreciate it. Yet, Jesus still comes. And when Jesus comes, His kingdom comes. Jesus comes forcefully into the fallen world – a world enslaved by sin, death and the devil. And where Jesus comes, His evil foes fight back. 

 

John the Baptist experienced violence for preparing the way of the Lord. He was arrested. He was imprisoned. His severed head was placed on a platter.

 

Jesus, too, experienced violent opposition. The Pharisees and Sadducees repeatedly challenged His preaching, teaching, and healing. He was falsely accused. He was beaten and flogged. He was betrayed by His own friends. He faced the worst kind of capital punishment – crucifixion. He was nailed to a tree and suffocated to death.

Jesus’ apostles and disciples also experienced violent opposition. They were locked up. They were beaten. They were stoned. They were beheaded. They were poisoned. They were crucified. And all for simply preaching salvation by grace through faith in Christ Jesus alone.

 

But despite the violence, God’s kingdom keeps pressing forward. His royal banners forward go! 

 

You see, even though Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried, He also descended into hell in victory! That third day, He rose from the dead! Then He ascended into heaven and now sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty!

 

Jesus came to redeem us lost and condemned sinners. He purchased and won us from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with silver or gold, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death so that you and I may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence and blessedness!

 

For nearly two thousand years, the kingdom of heaven continues pressing forward in this fallen world. And His enemy is still pressing hard against it. Those “spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12) are not just going to take the loss and lie down.

 

As you and I know, Satan and his fallen world are violently opposed to Jesus and His saving and forgiving ways as He works through His Means of Grace – His Word and Sacraments – in His Church. 

 

So, Satan and his fallen world continually attack Christ and His Church. They call Christ and His Church unloving. They seek to re-make Christ’s Church into the image of the Great Deceiver. Satan and his fallen world do not want sin called out. They don’t want to live by God’s Word. Instead, Satan and his fallen world desire to remake Christ’s Church into a lazy, go along to get along type of false Christianity. This is what we face today. This is what Christ’s Church has always faced.

 

This is why Christ’s Church must always be reformed. This is why it must always be called back to the saving work of Jesus Christ, the Church’s Bridegroom. For if we get lazy and flabby by not reading, hearing and studying God’s Word, we will form a new kind a Christianity – a false Christianity. A Christianity without Jesus. 

For if we get lazy and flabby by not joining the assembly of believers, among whom the Gospel is purely preached and the Sacraments rightly administered, we will form a new kind of Christianity – a false Christianity. Again, a Christianity without Jesus.

 

Recently, CBS Mornings aired a segment called “The State of Spirituality with Lisa Ling”[1] in which she interviewed a transvestite “Lutheran” “pastor” named Drew Stever. In case you are lost, Drew is a woman cosplaying as a man. And in case you are further lost, pondering how a transvestite can be a pastor. And to calm all fears, this “pastor” is not in fellowship with us. 

 

In the interview, Lisa Ling said to Stever, “There is a lot of people who say that according to the Bible, God made man and woman, and that couldn’t be any more clearly defined. How do you respond to them?” To that question, this confused “pastor” said, “[The Bible] is hard to relate to modern-day times, because it wasn’t written for 2024. It was written for then.”

 

The thing is, God’s Word never changes and that is the message of the Reformation. In fact, that is the motto of the Lutheran reformers: “VDMA”, which is a Latin acronym for “The Word of the Lord endures forever” (1 Peter 2:24-25). If God’s Word did change, we would have no sure and certain hope. We would be tossed to and fro by wind and waves. But thanks be to God, His Word never changes. So, His eternal promises of forgiveness, life, and salvation are sure. 

Like the Old Testament prophets, John the Baptist, saints of the Early Church, and the reformers, we ought to commit fully to the purity of our Christian doctrine. For in that doctrine, we hold the great truths taught by Holy Scripture, such as God’s creating and preserving power, our justification by grace through faith in Christ alone, Christ’s presence in His Means of Grace, the clarity of God’s Law in the moral issues of our day, and of our sure forgiveness won for us through the crucified and risen Christ.

 

On this Reformation Sunday, may we take our stand and never budge from God’s truths as He teaches us in His Word. Christ says: “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (Matthew 11:15). This is our Reformation cry! So, may our ears be joined to right understanding and saving faith! Let our hearing be joined to His saving Word and our hearts to His Word! Amen.

 

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, 
keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.
+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +

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[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDtGbosAbFA&t=73s

"The Limitlessness of God's Grace" (Mark 10:23-31)

Listen on Spotify

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen! Dear brothers and sisters in Christ: 

Jesus said to His disciples: “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God” (Mark 10:27).

 

This verse – when plucked out of its context – is one of the most misinterpreted and most misunderstood verses in Scripture. You see for many people, when they see those words “All things are possible with God,” they immediately think God is offering permission or even encouraging or affirming whatever they want. 

 

And even many wolves in sheep’s clothing disguising themselves as pastors will use that verse as their proof text for “Name it and claim it,” or even encouraging their parishioners into sins. 

 

So, if you only name what you want, by claiming what you want to God, then He will give it to you. The problem is that way of thinking is not Biblical and it is against the clear teaching of Scripture. This wrong interpretation puts man in control of God – as a sort of Disney Genie.

 

Now, taken in context, that verse “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God” (Mark 10:27) teaches the limitlessness of God’s grace.

 

Last week, a rich young man came up to Jesus and asked Him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17). This rich young man expected wise advice and even Jesus’ approval for his riches, but instead Jesus told him to rid himself of his idol worship of his wealth, which became his false god and then follow Him. That price tag on getting rid of his false god was too much for this man. 

 

Jesus’ Law preaching brought despair to this rich young man as He prepared to preach the Gospel. The question for this rich young man is: did he ever hear the Gospel? To that we’ll never know. He may have. He could have repented of his love of money and followed Jesus, or he could have held closer to his false god of money. So, we leave with a cliffhanger.

 

As this rich young man “went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions” (Mark 10:22), Jesus turns to the disciples to expound on what just happened.

 

Jesus gazes around at his disciples before He speaks. Then He said, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” (Mark 10:23b).

 

Money makes us feel secure. For many people, maybe even yourselves, this security puffs them up. Why would I need to thank and praise God? Life is going well! Why would I need to attend the Divine Service? Life is going well! I’m not struggling, so why would I need God? Life is going well!

 

As our Old Testament lesson from Ecclesiastes 5 says: “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. When goods increase, they increase who eat them” (Ecclesiastes 5:10-11a). So, for those who love money will never have enough. And in times of inflation, such as now, those with great wealth brings greater anxiety. For the more one has, the more one covets.

 

But for the disciples, they don’t see money that way. So, they look at Jesus in amazement, since they understood that if a person has much money, they were considered pious, generous, and worthy of God’s favor. Just because of their wealth, they must have special access before God.

 

To their amazement, Jesus says, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:24b-25).

 

Here, Jesus is talking about a real camel and a real eye of a needle. Jesus is utilizing extremes. The camel was the largest land animal in the region and the eye of a needle was the smallest opening. So, how could a camel go through the eye of a needle? It can’t. It’s impossible!

 

So, if a rich person cannot be saved, who can?

 

Jesus then gazes at His disciples again and says, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God” (Mark 10:27).

 

You see, on your own, entering the kingdom of God is impossible. Not just for the rich, but for all people. So, anything we do, through our merit and various activities, they gain nothing toward our salvation. You may be the most cheerful giver to the church and to various charities, the world may call you good for your sacrificial giving, but if you do not have faith in Christ and cling to Him, that giving – as great as it may be seen by the world – is worthless to salvation.

 

And it’s not just riches that can be a barrier to salvation. Another major barrier is the love of self – pride. Or the sexually immoral. Or those who cause division and strife. Really, anything that leads you to think you are doing well on your own without God.

 

So, is our case hopeless? No! Again, Jesus says, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God” (Mark 10:27).

 

Through the Holy Spirit, God can move even an idolatrous rich man to set aside his riches and set his fear, love, and trust in God. Now, that is the power of the Gospel! So, what is impossible for people is possible for God to grant to us in Christ. 

 

On our own, we can contribute nothing to our salvation. But by faith in Christ, He contributes everything for your salvation! Through the waters of Holy Baptism, Christ takes all of our sin upon Himself and wraps us up around His robe of righteousness. There, we are joined to His death and resurrection. There, Christ’s righteousness is given to us. And as we return to our Baptism in Confession and Absolution, the old Adam in us continually dies and is no longer our identity. Our new identity is in the new Man, Jesus Christ.

 

Also, when we kneel at the communion rail, we receive Christ’s body and blood for the forgiveness of our sins, which strengthens our identity in Christ.

 

Through His Means of Grace – His Word and Sacraments – God directs us to His Word, and not our word. He directs us to His promise of forgiveness in Christ the crucified.

 

But sometimes, even when we are nourished by Christ’s Word and Sacraments, our old Adam, that old sinful nature, still tries to take the credit for your salvation. And that was the case for Peter, who said, “See, we have left everything and followed you” (Mark 10:28).

 

Here, Peter speaks how he and his fellow disciples have sacrificed everything to follow Jesus. Peter is presuming that his sacrifice will give him merit with God. But the truth is that Peter and his fellow disciples will receive the Lord’s blessings of forgiveness, life, and salvation. However, not through their own merit, but only through the sacrifice of Jesus.

 

But Peter is partly right. They have indeed left everything to follow Jesus. What he is correct about is our sanctification. He is right about our Christian life in Christ. And he and his fellow disciples, including you and me, are growing day by day in sanctification.

 

Through being nourished by Christ’s Means of Grace, we change. We change in our relationship with God and with our neighbor. Instead of being self-centered, we grow into sacrificial people. We begin to live out God’s will for us. We grow in putting ourselves last, so that we may help and support, and to improve and protect, our neighbor.

 

Jesus’ words today are words of comfort for us. In our lives, we may be spurned and ridiculed, and we may be persecuted for our faith, but Jesus assures us that His grace is limitless. By His limitless grace, which we receive through faith in Him alone, salvation is the gift of God. Amen.

 

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,

 keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.  

+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +